BW’s Bo Ransom of Madison and cancer-stricken father will savor trip to NCAA D-III wrestling tournament

By
Mark Podolski, The News-Herald

Sunday, March 4, 2018

As early as Justin Ransom can remember, he’s always been called Bo.

His older brother Josh began calling him Bo when they were young. The name stuck, perfectly suited for a wrestler.

Most everything else Bo Ransom got from wrestling came from his dad, Ted Ransom.

So it seemed not only fitting, but necessary from the son’s perspective, Bo dropped everything three years ago to be there for the person he calls “his best friend.”

Bo, a Madison graduate who placed fifth in state as a senior at 145, wrestled at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina for one semester during the 2014-15 season before returning home to be with his dad, who was diagnosed with colon cancer and was treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Ted’s weight went from 210 to 149, but he pulled through.

The news was devastating for the family. Bo’s memory of how it unfolded is still vivid. His mother Kollen informed Belmont Abbery coach Kenn Caudell of Bo’s father’s situation, but asked him not to discuss it with Bo. Instead, Caudell asked Bo to accompany him to that season’s Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament. The story from Caudell was that he and Bo would recruit the tournament.

“Needless to say, I never went to the Ironman,” said Bo. “My mom told my coach, ‘Bo needs to come home.’ I remember walking into our house, and my parents sitting me down, and my dad said, ‘I have cancer.’ It felt like my world stopped. Probably the worst feeling in my life.”

The great news is the Ransom kids — Bo, Josh and their sister Gabby — have a father who is a cancer survivor. He is also someone who loves wrestling. Bo and his father have been connected through the sport as long as Bo can remember.

The decision to leave his first college was a no-brainer for Bo — “Unfortunately, life happens,” he said.

How it’s played out for Bo has brought father and son closer than ever. Ted wrestled for Madison in the 1980s, and eventually helped created the Madison Takedown Club. He was the club’s longtime president and coach. His sons Bo and Josh learned wrestling by participating in the club. Like Bo, Josh placed fifth in the state as a 220-pound senior.

Wrestling was non-stop in the Ransom family until Ted’s setback. Now it’s back in a big way for the family, even though Ted isn’t clear of his cancer. A recent checkup revealed it returned to Ted’s lungs and tailbone area.

“I would have never known,” he said. “But just like last time, they caught it early, and the doctors say I have a good chance at recovery.”

Ted won’t allow the recent news to dampen his spirits. Not when there’s plenty to rejoice in his wrestling family. Bo’s second cousin, Madison’s Shayne Magda, qualified for the Division I state tournament on March 3. Still, nothing compares to what happened between son and father Feb. 24 in Crawfordsville, Ind.

The winner of the third-place bout at 174 would qualify to the national tournament March 9-10 in Cleveland. The loser was done for the season. Ransom was in the same spot the previous season, and lost.

Said Bo: “Going into that third-place match, I was thinking, ‘It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, as long as I can walk off the mat, hug my dad, and tell him I love you. That’s all that matters.’ “

That’s what happened. The win was a bonus.

Gibbs watched from close by. His perspective:

“That’s what it’s all about,” said Gibbs. “That’s the beauty of sports. It gives their family a much-needed distraction, but it was such a great moment. It was something great to watch.”

It was also simply a great performance by Ransom, who entered the tournament seeded No. 6 in the 174-pound bracket. He performed well above that, and will enter the NCAA D-III tournament at 26-10.

Gibbs’ team advanced all but one of its 10 wrestlers to the national tournament. The coach might not have a better story on his team than Ransom.

After leaving North Carolina to return home, Bo attended Lake Erie College for a short while but did not wrestle.

“I needed to step away from the sport,” he said. “Everything that happened with my dad took the wind out of my sail.”

As his dad recovered, the itch to get back on the mat wouldn’t go away, so Bo turned to the coach who originally recruited him in high school.

“I remember getting an email directly from Bo,” said Gibbs. “He asked if we were still interested. We were.”

Bo enrolled at BW at the start of last season, but couldn’t compete until the second semester. The time away from the sport — more than a year — took its toll, but Bo still managed a solid 20-7 season. He missed qualifying for the NCAA tournament by one match.

This season has been a nice turnaround, and Bo’s father knows why.

“The thing I love most about Bo’s story is that I know the love of (wrestling) came back to him,” said Ted, 48. “I think emotionally, he needed that break. One day, wrestling is so important, then all of the sudden it isn’t.”

Hopes are high for the Yellow Jackets with the NCAAs in their backyard. The large group they will bring to Cleveland’s Public Hall has their coach thinking of a potential top-five finish in the team standings. But this season has been more than just wins and losses on the mat.

“I think (this season) has been a blessing for both of them,” said Gibbs. “They have a special bond, and wrestling is a big part of it. Bo’s at home in the wrestling room, and he’s at home with his dad.”